Wellington Phoenix’s teenage star Pia Vlok has received the March/April nomination for Young Footballer of the Year in the Ninja A-League.
The young attacker has established herself as one of the competition’s brightest stars this season, featuring heavily for the Nix despite being just 17 years old.
Finishing the regular season with six goals and three assists, Vlok played a prominent role throughout the campaign for Bev Priestman’s side as they finished second on the ladder, sealing finals football for the first time in the club’s history.
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Vlok joins Melbourne City’s Shelby McMahon on the shortlist after she was the recipient of the November nomination for the Young Footballer of the Year award.
Brisbane Roar duo Daisy Brown and Grace Kuilamu then earned their spots on the shortlist after claiming the December and January nominations respectively whilst Newcastle Jets young gun Emma Dundas scooped the February nomination.
The Ninja A-League Young Footballer of the Year award is an annual prize awarded to the competition’s best young player from either Australia or New Zealand aged 19 and under.
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Vlok was named Young Footballer of the Year March/April nominee via a panel appointed by the Australian Professional Leagues (APL).
The panel features an assortment of media representatives and technical football experts, who vote on a 3-2-1 basis at the conclusion of each nominated monthly period throughout the season.
A wildcard nominee will be revealed later this week ahead of voting opening for the Dolan Warren Awards.
